St. Andrew Catholic School holds annual harvest festival
By MEGHAN McCOY, mmccoy@breezenewspapers.com
St. Andrew Catholic School held its annual harvest festival Monday morning to teach the first-grade students about pilgrims and Native Americans.
The harvest festival has been held for many years for first-grade students to enhance their learning about pilgrims and Native Americans with hands-on activities and games. The various stations provided the children with the opportunity to make pilgrim voyage bracelets, Native American necklaces with beads and shells, dying string by smashing berries, coloring and cutting out the Mayflower, designing a mosaic with dried beans and making a pumpkin desert.
Angela Sarnack, first grade teacher at St. Andrew Catholic School, said her 22 kids spent time learning about pilgrims and Native Americans all last week. She explained that the students learned how to be thankful, along with what the pilgrims and Native Americans had to endure once they made it to the new world.
Some of the activities they participated in during the harvest festival overlapped with what they learned in the classroom.
Eric Smith, 6, said the “pilgrims and Indians sailed to the new world in the Mayflower,” as he held up his colored boat in the air. He explained that the Mayflower will go on the map he made earlier in the week to show where the Native Americans and pilgrims traveled to get to the new world.
“They are amazed by what they are learning,” Sarnack said.
Volunteer Maria Blaine said the festival provides the students with a hands-on learning experience. She explained that it is a fun way to get the kids ready for the holidays.
Another parent volunteer, Julie Kostera, joined in the festivities Monday morning as she helped the students dye a piece of string by smashing raspberries, blueberries and cranberries.
She said she enjoyed the festival because it allows the kids to be creative while learning the customs of the Native American people.
The festival ended with a traditional turkey meal for the children for lunch. Sarnack said the meal was provided by the volunteer parents, which consisted of kid friendly Thanksgiving food.